MLB: A-Rod taking rehab to Triple-A

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez is going to join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre today, likely the final stop in his rehabilitation from left hip surgery before he returns to the New York Yankees as early as Monday.

Rodriguez is 5-for-28 with six strikeouts in his rehab that began July 2 with Class-A Charleston. He hit his first homer on Monday for Double-A Trenton.

A-Rod’s 20-day rehab limit ends Sunday and he told a New York radio station Wednesday he expects to be in the Yankees lineup Monday at Texas.

Yankees general manager told ESPN New York that Rodriguez could be activated Monday or Tuesday, after a day off. If the team decides the third baseman is not ready for major league games he has to go back on the disabled list.

Rodriguez hasn’t played for the Yankees since a dreadful postseason. He had surgery in January.

Wrigley plan clears hurdle

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs’ planned $500 million renovation of Wrigley Field has won the approval of another city commission and the support of the local alderman — all but assuring the project will go forward.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved the proposal to renovate Wrigley and develop nearby property. The plan includes putting an electronic Jumbotron above the ivy-covered outfield walls of the 99-year-old ballpark.

Alderman Tom Tunney endorsed the plan days after he told the city’s landmarks commission that he didn’t. Tunney said Mayor Rahm Emanuel has assured him there will be no other outfield signs other than the Jumbotron and another large sign for several years.

Approval from the City Council is widely expected because it’s supported by Tunney and Emanuel.

Man charged for running on field

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a suburban New York man who ran onto the field during the All-Star game at Citi Field faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The suspect allegedly did it on a Twitter dare.

Queens district attorney Richard Brown says 18-year-old Dylan McCue-Masone, of Shirley, on Long Island, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday. He’s charged with interfering with a professional sporting event.

Brown says McCue-Masone allegedly initiated a dare to run onto the field if he received 1,000 responses to his tweet about it.

McCue-Masone also faces civil penalties of $5,000. He was released without bail and is due back in court Sept. 11.

Mills gets release to sign in Japan

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers released left-hander Brad Mills from his minor league contract so that he could sign to play in Japan.

Texas claimed Mills on waivers from the Los Angeles Angels during spring training and assigned him outright to Triple-A Round Rock.

Mills was 7-5 with a 3.87 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) for Round Rock. He was scheduled to participate in the Triple-A All-Star game Wednesday, but withdrew from that after reaching an agreement with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League.